Limiting Unplanned Overtime

Overtime Isn't the Problem. Unwanted Overtime Is.

Many business leaders still hold two beliefs about overtime: It’s more expensive than idle time, and keeping overtime below 5 percent is a measure of good management. Neither belief is always true. Instead, the facts argue in favor of a better strategy for identifying and preventing unnecessary overtime.

Because unplanned and unnecessary overtime has so many causes, there are also several strategies for reducing it.